ESB International has announced plans to hire 150 of the brightest minds from Ireland and overseas over the next three years, to add to a diverse workforce that comprises 36 nationalities. On 12 April Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Charlie Flanagan TD opened ESB International’s new offices at One Dublin Airport Central and hailed the ambition of the 725-strong engineering consultancy to further expand its workforce and global reach. Minister Flanagan was taken on a tour of the award-winning building by ESB Chief Executive Pat O’Doherty and Managing Director of ESB International Ollie Brogan during which he was informed of new contract wins of €11m in Africa, the Middle East, Europe and with international funding agencies. daa Chief Executive Kevin Toland was also present for the opening. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Charlie Flanagan TD says that ESB International’s new presence at Dublin Airport is a fitting statement for a truly international company. “Since 1975, ESB International has blazed a trail for other Irish companies to follow, successfully delivering projects throughout the world to assist countries at various stages of development. This Irish expertise has made a real difference to people’s lives and today’s announcement of 150 new highly skilled positions in the coming years is to be warmly welcomed. As Ireland faces up to some tough economic challenges in the period ahead, the company is an inspiration and an example of what can be achieved – a globally connected company which remains grounded in the distinctive values of Ireland.” ESB Chief Executive Pat O’Doherty explains that ESB International is at the forefront of ESB’s broader vision to lead the transition to a low carbon future. “At ESB, we have an innate understanding of electricity as a vital precursor to social and economic development. Ireland’s experience has underlined electricity as a key enabler, with ESB bringing its transformative power to even the most remote corners. For the last four decades, ESB International has exported skills and ingenuity to 120 countries around the world. It isn’t just this engineering expertise that distinguishes ESB International from our competitors, but rather a culture of solving problems and sharing knowledge that is rooted in ESB’s DNA and driven by a desire to drive progress and growth in the communities we serve. Today’s office opening in the heart of Dublin Airport Central opens an exciting new chapter as we rise to the global energy challenges of the coming decades.” The building’s world-class environmental credentials has been recognised with award of the highest ‘platinum’ level sustainability accreditation of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), making it the first such award in Ireland for a ‘core and shell’ building. ESB International’s new headquarters builds on wider collaboration between ESB and Dublin Airport, which are partners in a project that has delivered 33% energy saving in the airport complex.